For years, Meta has allowed its 3 billion users around the world to employ the term “Zionist,” which refers to supporters of the historical movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, as well as backers of modern-day nationalism in support of that state and its policies.
Meta’s internal rules around the word “Zionist,” first reported by The Intercept in 2021, show that company moderators are only supposed to delete posts using the term if it’s determined to be a proxy for “Jewish” or “Israeli,” both protected classes under company speech rules. The policy change Meta is now considering would enable the platform’s moderators to more aggressively and expansively enforce this rule, a move that could dramatically increase deletions of posts critical of Israeli nationalism.
“We don’t allow people to attack others based on their protected characteristics, such as their nationality or religion. Enforcing this policy requires an understanding of how people use language to reference those characteristics,” Meta spokesperson Corey Chambliss told The Intercept. “While the term Zionist often refers to a person’s ideology, which is not a protected characteristic, it can also be used to refer to Jewish or Israeli people. Given the increase in polarized public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it’s important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term Zionist.”
People are starting to learn that Judaism and Zionism are two entirely different things, which Zionist lobbies aren’t fond of
In the months since October 7, staunchly pro-Israel groups like the Anti-Defamation League have openly called for treating anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism, pointing out that the word is often used by antisemites as a stand-in for “Jew.” The ADL and American Jewish Committee, another pro-Israel, Zionist advocacy group in the U.S., have both been lobbying Meta to restrict use of the word “Zionist,” according to Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director at the Muslim grassroots advocacy group MPower Change. In his statement, Chambliss responded, “We did not initiate this policy development at the behest of any outside group.”
They’re not exactly wrong. Both Zionists and bigots pretend that “Jew” and “Zionist” mean the same thing. They just don’t admit that Zionists do it too.
Well no, this is just israel lobbying propaganda from ADL.
From Wikipedia
Jonathan Greenblatt is an American entrepreneur, corporate executive, and the sixth National Director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
From The Guardian’s article in my comment above:
“Anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” Greenblatt said in a speech to ADL leaders. He singled out Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as groups that “epitomize the Radical Left, the photo inverse of the Extreme Right that ADL long has tracked”.
The Anti-Defamation League CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, sparked controversy in 2022 when he placed opposition to Israel on a par with white supremacy as a source of antisemitism.
I know who he is. He’s an asshole. And he also just assumes that all Jews are Zionists, which is just as bigoted as when antisemite bigots say it.
So when he points out that the word is often used by antisemites as stand-in for Jew, he’s not wrong. But so does he.
Have you ever stopped to think what dumping on Israel means to a Jewish person though? Many love Israel. Do you think just because the two are different that you are going to endear yourself to them by saying essentially that it’s OK to be Jewish, just don’t love Israel? A charge of hatred might be too far, but you really aren’t making the argument you think you are.
Considering I’m Jewish, yes I’ve considered it. And yes, it’s okay to be Jewish and be against Israeli apartheid and genocide.
Why the fuck do you think it isn’t?
And to those who love Israel, you say what? All you did was avoid what I said and turn it around on me. You’re just like everyone else.
I say they love Israel? What exactly do you want me to say about them? It doesn’t change the fact that “Zionist” and “Jew” are not synonyms and anyone who claims they are is perpetuating a bigoted stereotype.
I understand the technical side of this argument to a T. Let me ask you then, as a Jew, you’ve never found a reason to love Israel?! OK. But can’t you see why people would? It’s almost like the two can’t coexist for some people. Israel is very important to the Jewish people. I’ve heard very little defense in the way of Israel, both in present times or anytime. But some people feel the need to keep bringing up these certain points all the time. And the tone is never in favor of Israel. My whole point with all of this is to point out the tone deaf nature of people who think they can just shit all over Israel and that Jews can’t be offended, even when the offender is Jewish. I don’t care solely about what this article is talking about. I’m not speaking solely about Israel’s current military engagements. And I’m not saying that you can’t ever criticize Israel. It’s pretty apparent you can, Lemmy does all the time, and there’s very little push back. Keep that in mind while shitting all over me. Thanks.
Why should I love Israel when they have been oppressing another ethnic group for decades? After my own ancestors were oppressed and kicked off their land? No. Sorry. I don’t have any reason to love Israel.
And I really don’t care what “some people” think about Israel.
You seem to be implying that I have to love Israel to be Jewish.
Have you ever stopped to think what dumping on
IsraelISIS means to aJewishMuslim person though?ManyFew loveIsraelISIS. Do you think just because the two are different that you are going to endear yourself to them by saying essentially that it’s OK to beJewishMuslim, just don’t loveIsraelISIS? A charge of hatred might be too far, but you really aren’t making the argument you think you are.This was childish and doesn’t even make sense. In fact you sound more like a hater than if you hadn’t said anything at all. Drawing connections between ISIS and Israel is pathetic. You can turn it around on me if you like, but that’s not what we’re talking about. I think you’ve just avoided what I brought up is all.
Both are violent extremist groups which ignore 99% of their holy book to focus on a few lines ripped out of context that talk about killing infidels/Amaleks.
Anyone that knows anything about those respective religions can tell you in half a second why their credo is based on lies.
I hear you on the vast differences of what one’s religion is or asks of one and what we actually see being carried out. Also, I’m not going to get into it about the atrocities we see today but I agree with some of what is said about that as well.
However, I have a question for you. What can you tell me about Teva pharmaceuticals? Then, tell me how that’s like ISIS.
I have no idea what Teva has to do with this but sure, I can dunk on israeli big pharma scum while we’re at it.
Opioid Maker Agrees to Pay Oklahoma $85 Million Over Claims Company Helped Create Addiction Crisis
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $85 million to settle an Oklahoma lawsuit claiming that illegal marketing of its opioid painkillers contributed to a public health crisis in the state.
Oklahoma said J&J and Teva helped create a public-health crisis from opioid abuse that killed thousands of its residents. The state, in its lawsuit, accused the companies of overstating the painkillers’ benefits and understating their risks, which created a “devastating cycle of over-prescription’’ that was “built on addiction, dependence and a market saturated with misinformation regarding the benefits and safety of those drugs.”
I reject your premise that loving Israel means being unable to tolerate any criticism of Israel’s actions. I’m a citizen of the US; I would argue that I’m critical of the US because I love it, and want to see it improve. That’s why I’m so critical of our military and our foreign policy. We commit a lot of war crimes; it’s a huge problem. I’m also critical of our shitty healthcare system, our lack of social safety nets, our institutional racism, and so forth. As an individual I don’t feel like I have a huge amount of agency to affect those things, but I do try my best, including voting and communicating my views to those around me.
So yeah, I think it’s totally fine to be Jewish, and totally fine to love Israel. What I don’t think is fine is being okay with every aspect of Israel’s current actions in Gaza–in particular, the multiple instances of the killing of journalists, health care workers, and children, and the extreme restrictions on supplies entering the country. Those aspects are all obscene. The level of suffering in Gaza overall right now is unbelievable.
If someone takes offense at my calling those actions by the military obscene, I would argue that’s not a matter of Judaism. That’s a matter of rather extreme nationalism.
I guess they should also look into “globalist” and (((other dog whistles)))
Oh, they won’t? No surprise.
Instead of anti-Zionist you can use anti-colonialist.
Instead of Zionists I call them apartheid supporters.
On the one hand, I don’t mind greater scrutiny with such things. I wouldn’t want people tarring all Palestinians by calling them Hamas either.
On the other hand, I can really see this silencing legitimate criticism.
Believing there is a huge problem with people who advocate for Israeli supremacy and criticizing them for it is not an attack on Jews. In fact, as a Jew, I have met a hell of a lot more non-Jewish Zionists than Jewish ones.
The problem is when both bigots and Zionists themselves assume that any Jew (or Israeli) must be a Zionist.
How do you fairly moderate which is which without inserting your own political beliefs about Israel into it? I have no idea.
Well they have this rule already that seems similar (from the article):
Meta’s internal rules around the word “Zionist,” first reported by The Intercept in 2021, show that company moderators are only supposed to delete posts using the term if it’s determined to be a proxy for “Jewish” or “Israeli,” both protected classes under company speech rules.
Saying that anti-Zionist is anti-Jewish is akin to saying that anti-Nazi is anti-Christian.
The Nazis were mostly Christian, but most Christians aren’t Nazis.
The Zionists are mostly Jewish, but most Jews aren’t Zionists.
Hamas are mostly Palestinian, but more Palestinians aren’t Hamas.
I have serious issues with Nazis, Zionists and Hamas, and what they represent, to various levels. I have no issues with Christians, Jews, or Palestinians.
"We don’t allow people to attack others based on their protected characteristics, such as their nationality or religion.
Didn’t they remove this for Russians two yeaes ago?
Evweyone who uses “Zionist” like it’s a real word is being racist, in my experience. I’ve never seen a single exception.
Zionists are racist.
Calling people Zionist isn’t racist if if they are actually Zionists.
It’s a huge red flag. I’m already making assumptions about you, just like I would if you said “Woke people are racist.”
Concern trolling doesn’t work here.
